Greetings Birders!

Last night (Sat 3/24) while leading a woodcock program at Slate Run Metro Park, we came across an "early" Henslow's Sparrow!  It was singing over and over again in the prairie at the Buzzard's Roost Picnic Area.  I, as well as three very reliable and bird-knowledgeable volunteers, heard and identified it by song and all of us were surprised to hear one in March.  We usually hear/see them in late April to mid-May.  We never did see it as it was getting dark, and they are usually hard to find anyway!

Peterjohn's Birds of Ohio lists the earliest date for Henslow's as March 18, so this one is not a record, but it is probably a few weeks early, as the book also says they are generally first seen between April 10-20.  

And, the woodcock program was fantastic.  There were many calling, flying, etc.  One in particular landed right in the trail so all of us could see it!  We heard a distant barred owl as well.

Slate Run Metro Park is part of the Columbus and Franklin County Park District.  It is in northeastern Pickaway County, 7 miles south of Canal Winchester.  http://www.metroparks.net

Happy birding!

Andrea (Haslage) Krava
Slate Run Metro Park Hub Naturalist



______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]